OFFSHORE: Well, it wasn't a terribly exciting time for the offshore brigade with the westerly winds finally giving way to the southerlies and picking up pace as the week progressed. Fortunately, the first half of the week, although a tad lumpy was at least fishable before the moderate to strong (20 to 30 knot) south easterlies shut the gate from Friday onwards.
Unfortunately, the Snapper decided to lay low after last week's big showing so it was mostly Squire and Moses Perch on the bite at the visited reefs. In addition to that, however, Sunshine Reef produced Sweetlip and Maori Cod while a little further out at North reef the extras were Teraglin Jewfish, Pearl Perch and, as you can see by the photo above, Northern Bluefin Tuna. Bob Waldock was out there on a half day Cougar Too charter on Tuesday when he hooked and landed this 12kg 'Longtail'. He was armed with a Shakespeare Ugly Stik and a Shimano Baitrunner 6500 reel loaded with 15lb line.

ONSHORE: The coastal surf beaches were certainly worth a look earlier in the week and early morning when the winds were less of a problem. On the North Shore, Bream, Whiting, Dart and Tarwhine made up the bulk of the catch with the best returns coming from the waters opposite the First Cutting and around the township of Teewah.
Over on the east side Bream, Whiting and Tarwhine were on the bite at Sunshine Beach while at Peregian Beach the catch was Flathead, Dart, Tarwhine and Chopper Tailor.
And it was at Sunshine Beach on Friday morning that local angler Ralph Thorne (right) hooked and landed the 1kg Tarwhine he's pictured with. Ralph was fishing for Whiting when his Pippy bait on a No.4 longshank hook was monstered by this healthy specimen. He was armed with a Jarvis Walker light surf combo.
In the river, Flathead and Bream were well spread with the hot spots being Weyba Creek, Munna Point, Tewantin and Lake Cooroibah. Apart from that there were a few Luderick on the bite down at the river mouth while in the Woods Bays there were Trevally and, as you can see by the photo below, quality Queenfish chasing soft plastics. Local lad Shaun Nesbit was casting and retrieving a Prawn Power Bait on a Nitro jighead from the Woods Spit yesterday morning when the 4.5kg 'Skinny' he's posing with came to the party. This was an excellent catch in anyone's book considering Shaun's estuary outfit was only loaded with 4lb Fireline. Well done mate.

On the freshwater scene, the Lake MacDonald Bass were responding well to soft plastics in Bass Bay and Gazebo Bay.